2008

Some movies achieve cult status because they deliver something special, often without getting much critical attention. Gems like " Army of Darkness," "Rocky Horror Picture Show," "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" "? the standards. "305," a cross-spoof of the screen epic "300" and sitcom favorite "The Office " might only appeal to frothing, rabid fans of the film's YouTube installments. Even at that, they might lose interest after 20 minutes.

The straight-to-DVD mockumentary has all the signs of a B-movie winner "? lame jokes, below subpar acting, low-budget green-screened scenes "? but the flick fails to capture the Mel Brooks-ian humor it's aiming for. And Darryl, the flick's version of Dwight Schrute from "Office," is little more than a blatant rip-off and rarely worth a chuckle. The unlikely merger of the show and film sounds promising, but you'll laugh more watching an episode of "Office" and Googling for "This is Sparta!" memes "? in a shorter time span, no less.

That said, you could appreciate "305" for its indie cinema value. The scenes actually look pretty good, and the actors perform with just the right amount of camp. But the fact that directors Daniel and David Holechek had the audacity to tread upon  "Office" breaks the deal. Maybe it's too soon.

If you've been following the YouTube episodes religiously or are friends of the directors, "305" might be worth a rental. But wait until the last day to watch it so it won't feel like you wasted your money.

 "?Jake Dalton

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